A Scientific Guide to the Perfect First Date

First dates are tough. You're trying to make a good impression on someone, but you're also trying to read the person you're with and see if they're worth your time.

Watch for Mimicry (But Don't Go Overboard)

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If you've ever spent an extended amount of time with someone you know that you'll likely pick up a few of their mannerisms, expressions, and gestures. That mimicry is an accidental sign of affection in most cases and science suggests that we're also attracted to that copycat behavior.

In a study published in Social Influence, researchers found that men were more likely to enjoy a date when the woman mimicked him. Another study published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society demonstrated that we're more likely to like people who mimic us, and yet another study from Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin suggests that people mimic others they find attractive. The moral of the story here? Mimicry-whether it's verbal or bodily-is often a sign of attraction.

This means that mimicry is a good thing to look out for when you're on a date with someone. This might be them subtly crossing their legs after you do or if they put their hand to their chin after you. The New York Times breaks it down like so:

"When you're being mimicked in a good way, it communicates a kind of pleasure, a social high you're getting from the other person, and I suspect it activates the areas of the brain involved in sensing reward," [neuroscientist Dr. Jean Decety] said.

Of course, it's a thin line between a charming mimic and purposeful persuasion. Don't go overboard trying to mimic the person you're on a date with or watching to see if they mimic you. Doing so will probably make you come across as a creepy mime.